The Queensland Government will consider building two new dams and raising Wivenhoe Dam to better protect Brisbane and Ipswich families from major flood events.

Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle today released the results of a wide-ranging prefeasibility study looking at potential options to improve the flood defences of the two cities.

“South-east Queensland will experience major flood events in the future and while we can never flood-proof Brisbane or Ipswich, the Newman Government is committed to doing everything possible to better protect lives, homes and businesses.” Mr. McArdle said.

“The Newman Government’s 30 year plan for the water sector – WaterQ – recognises the challenges we face from climate variability and natural disasters, such as floods.”

“The prefeasibility study we are releasing today is the first step in understanding how new dams could help us tackle these challenges and better protect Brisbane and Ipswich from future floods.”

Mr. McArdle said the prefeasibility study narrowed the flood mitigation options down from nine to three that were worthy of further consideration, including:

Increasing the flood mitigation compartment of Wivenhoe Dam by raising the dam wall;

A new dam on the Brisbane River upstream of Linville;

A new dam on the Lower Warrill Creek near Willowbank.

“It is important to stress no decisions have been made about which dams may or may not be built.” Mr. McArdle said.

“A more detailed investigation will now be carried out to consider the benefits, estimated costs, and potential impacts of each of the three options or combinations of options.”

“New operational strategies for Wivenhoe and North Pine dams released last month could mean as many as 1,500 fewer buildings in Brisbane and Ipswich would be flooded in a repeat of the 2011 flood.”

“The new dams we are investigating could save thousands more homes and businesses if there was a repeat of the 2011 floods, but it is still early days and we will now do more detailed studies into these options.”

“Unlike Labor, which wasted billions of dollars on a rusty desalination plant, a recycled water plant that’s too costly to operate and the non-existent Traveston Dam, the Newman Government is determined to deliver better infrastructure and planning to keep Queenslanders safe.” Mr. McArdle said.